An image reading device includes: a plurality of light sources that are arranged in a row and emit light; a light guide body that guides the light emitted from the plurality of light sources to a reading portion and transmits light reflected from the reading portion; a carriage having the plurality of light sources and the light guide body; and a reading unit that receives the light reflected from the reading portion and reads an image on the reading portion.
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1. An image reading device comprising: a plurality of light sources that are arranged in a row and emit light; a light guide body that guides the light emitted from the plurality of light sources to a reading portion and transmits light reflected from the reading portion, a surface roughness of an upper surface of the light guide body being equal to or less than 0.1 μm in terms of surface roughness measured by the arithmetic mean roughness Ra of JIS-B-0601; a carriage having the plurality of light sources and the light guide body; and a reading unit that receives the light reflected from the reading portion and reads an image on the reading portion.
An image reading device (scanner) has a row of LEDs as a light source. A light guide body directs the light from the LEDs to the document being scanned and also transmits the light reflected from the document back towards the sensor. The carriage holds both the LEDs and the light guide. A reading unit (sensor) receives the reflected light and captures the image. The upper surface of the light guide body has a surface roughness of 0.1 μm or less, measured as the arithmetic mean roughness Ra according to JIS-B-0601.
2. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein at least part of the light guide body projects toward an optical axis of an optical path which guides the light reflected from the reading portion to the reading unit more than an upper member, the upper member being a part of the carriage and being located above the light guide body.
The image reading device described uses a row of LEDs as a light source and a light guide to direct light to and from the scanned document. The carriage holds the LEDs and light guide, and a reading unit captures the image. A portion of the light guide body extends further toward the optical axis that guides reflected light to the reading unit than an upper member (part of the carriage) located above the light guide. This projecting part helps improve light capture efficiency.
3. The image reading device according to claim 2 , wherein a horizontal distance from the optical axis to an end portion of the upper member on the optical axis side is equal to or greater than 12 mm.
The image reading device features a row of LEDs, a light guide for directing light to/from the scanned document, a carriage, and a reading unit. Part of the light guide projects toward the optical axis more than an upper member of the carriage. The horizontal distance from the optical axis to the edge of the upper member closest to the optical axis is at least 12 mm. This specific dimension ensures proper light path clearance.
4. The image reading device according to claim 1 , wherein the light guide body is transparent.
An image reading device includes a row of LEDs to illuminate a document. A transparent light guide body directs light from the LEDs to the reading area and also transmits reflected light back to the sensor. The carriage holds the LEDs and light guide. A reading unit receives the reflected light and reads the image. The transparency of the light guide allows efficient light transmission.
5. An image forming apparatus comprising: the image reading device according to claim 1 ; and an image forming component that forms an image on the basis of information of an image read by the reading unit of the image reading device.
An image forming apparatus (e.g., a copier or multifunction printer) incorporates an image reading device consisting of a row of LEDs, a light guide for directing light to/from the scanned document, a carriage, and a reading unit that captures the image. The image forming apparatus also contains an image forming component (e.g., a laser printer engine or inkjet printhead) that creates a physical image based on the scanned data.
6. An image reading device comprising: a plurality of light sources that are arranged in a row and emit light; a light guide body that guides the light emitted from the plurality of light sources to a reading portion and transmits light reflected from the reading portion; a carriage having the plurality of light sources and the light guide body; and a reading unit that receives the light reflected from the reading portion and reads an image on the reading portion, wherein at least part of the light guide body projects toward an optical axis of an optical path which guides the light reflected from the reading portion to the reading unit more than an upper member, the upper member being a part of the carriage and being located above the light guide body, and wherein a horizontal distance from the optical axis to an end portion of the upper member on the optical axis side is equal to or greater than 12 mm.
An image reading device includes a row of LEDs, a light guide for directing light to/from the scanned document, a carriage, and a reading unit. A portion of the light guide projects further toward the optical axis than an upper member of the carriage. The horizontal distance from the optical axis to the edge of the upper member closest to the optical axis is at least 12 mm. This specific geometry helps optimize the optical path by ensuring a specified clearance between light guide and upper carriage member.
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March 18, 2010
September 17, 2013
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